Math Physics Study Skills

      Math often causes anxiety and frustration however with good study skills almost all have the ability to succeed.  Math is like a language and must be practiced regularly.  Following are some some specific study skills that can help you to succeed. 

     Always study the easiest thing you don't know.   Often students get ahead of themselves in math.  This is where things can really fall apart.  If you are studying subject matter at a higher level then your ability then the learning becomes very inefficient.  In other words once your behind you start getting in trouble in math.  To remedy this make sure you start to spiral back and review.  It's difficult becuase you want to do tomorrows problem set not study last years material again.  I can offer an example I learned Calculus in college but when I became a teacher my math skills improved as a result of teaching Algebra.  Perhaps had I reviewed sooner I could have done even better in college. 

     Always search for the simplest example.  Often texts or teachers may not give the simplest example first.  If the examples are too hard make up your own.  Write it down if that helps.

     Read slowly.  Often learners try to read too fast or understand too fast.  Math is understood slowly at first.  Read slowly and make sure you follow the meaning of each sentence.

     Listen at keypoints.  When I was a student I daydreamed most of the time.  I could get by on tests by deducing answers and usually earned a B in most high school courses.  As I teacher I notice that successful students pay attention.  They have the ability to pay attentioni especially at key points.  If you have trouble listening then try to at least pay attention to key ideas.  This is crucial.  Usually in a math lesson on a given day there are only a few new key ideas.  If you miss those ideas and forgot yesterdays guess what:  Your going to be lost! 

     Look for both symbolic process and meaning.  I am the type that looks for meaning.  I notice that some of the best Algebra students follow the symbolic process.  They memorize what to do in a given situation!  Try to use both.  Try to understand the meaning but also practice until you know the procedures.  If you understand and know the procedures your in a win win situation:  If you can't figure it out you can remember how to proceed and if you can't remember how to proceed you can figure it out!

     Get the big picture.  Don't miss the forest because you are looking at the moss on the tree bark.  Start with the forest it's general contour and work your way down to the specifics.  Always try to understand the big picture of what the topic is about.

     When reading advanced texts:

     Realize it took mathematicians years to come up with the proof you are expected to read.  I think math books at the higher level just are not written with learning in mind.  You could spend years struggling with proofs.  Try to get the big picture of the text.  First skim the text.  Then read it more closely trying to get the theorems and definitions.  Then try to visualize what is going on.  Finally when you have all that down you can try for the proofs.  Refer to the above rules:  Make simple examples and get the big picture.

     Expand your resources.  If you don't like your teacher and he is too incompetent to follow a decent text then find one.  There are lots of books available for free on the internet. 

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